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05/13/2020 07:00 AMOld Saybrook’s distribution of masks to residents on May 6 went according to the Office of Emergency Management’s careful plan.
Masks were distributed at the town’s two polling locations: District 1, Old Saybrook Middle School, where 3,952 masks were handed out and District 2, Old Saybrook High School, where 8,066 masks were provided.
The masks were purchased by the town as an “emergency protective measure...to help stop community spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe,” said Police Chief Michael A. Spera, who serves as the town’s director of emergency management.
“I don’t think it could have gone any better,” he said. “We were very, very pleased with the turnout.”
Mask distribution began at noon. Residents were instructed to drive to their assigned polling station, whether or not they are registered to vote. The first stop was a residency verification station. At the second stop, residents were asked how many people were in their household and temporary signs were placed on the top of vehicles.
The third, optional, stop was a collection point for donations of non-perishable food items to be donated to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.
At the last stop, masks were placed in vehicles.
Police officers and civilians working for the police department staffed the operation and all wore gloves and masks, Spera said. Spera acknowledged that there were some traffic backups.
“That’s to be expected when you’re asking everyone in town to drive to two locations,” he said.
In addition, those who were unable to get to the polling places were asked to call, and police made deliveries to 146 homes on May 6 and 7.
The previous weekend, May 2 to 3, had beautiful weather and saw many people out at the beaches and at Saybrook Point. Quite a few were not wearing masks.
“We have seen some folks who are not adhering to the governor’s orders, which include maintaining social distancing, staying in groups of five or less, and the responsibility to wear a face masks if you’re unable to maintain social distance,” said Spera.
Some people are confused as to the purpose of wearing masks, he said.
They “are no so much for the individual wearer to protect themselves,” he said. “The mask is designed to protect everyone else from the person wearing the mask.
“You can have the virus and be asymptomatic,” Spera continued; this includes those who later become sick and those who never do.
“You can never know [you have it] and can be infecting others,” he said. “That is a tremendous concern, which is why we took this emergency protective measure to stop community spread.”
As another protective measure, Saybrook beach parking lots will be open to Saybrook residents only beginning the weekend of May 9 to 10. Beach passes may be obtained online at oldsaybrookbeach.cityhallsystems.com/index.php.
“[W]hen you look at government’s primary responsibility, its primary responsibility is to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, and I think Old Saybrook did that” by purchasing and distributing masks to its residents, said Spera.
“I think that the turnout exemplifies the community’s need and desire to have their own personal protective equipment,” he said.